How to Walk With Crutches & a Walking Boot Cast

It can be a daunting and difficult experience to walk with crutches while your leg is in a walking boot cast. If you have gotten yourself into a pickle by breaking your leg, a pair of crutches will help you maneuver and regain some independence. It requires balance and some upper body strength to perfect moving around on crutches properly. However by following a few simple steps, you can learn the appropriate technique to make life easier.

Instructions

• 1

  Position your crutches at the right height. A medical professional at the hospital assists with this task. The top of the crutch should be between 1.5 and 2 inches below your armpit. The hand grip should allow your elbow to bend slightly when you are standing upright.

• 2

  Sit on the edge of a bed or chair. Place each crutch under each of your armpits.

• 3

  Stand up by using your good leg to take most of your weight while you push down on the hand grips and stand up straight.

• 4

  Balance your weight on your good leg and steady yourself using the crutches. Do not place any weight on your walking boot cast. Rest this gently on the ground.

• 5

  Move forward by leaning on your good leg while advancing both crutches about 2 feet in front of you. Lift the leg with the cast slightly off the ground and swing this forward with the crutches.

• 6

  Place all your weight on the crutches by pushing down through the hand grip.

• 7

  Bring the good leg forward to just beyond where the crutches are and place your weight on the good leg again. The good leg and the two crutches act as a tripod to keep you balanced.

• 8

  Repeat steps 4 through 7 again to get to your destination. Make sure you do not put weight on the cast and that this leg is brought forward when you move the crutches.